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Kidnapping: Edwin Clark’s Son Released

Channels Television. Updated April 6, 2014

After about five days in kidnappers den, son of Niger Delta elder-statesman Chief Edwin Clark, Mr Ebiteme Clark, has been released.

Mr Clark was abducted on Wednesday on the site of Edwin Clark University of Technology in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. According to family sources, no ransom was paid to the abductors.

The kidnapers were said to have demanded a 60 million Naira ransom. The police in Warri, Delta State last week said that the kidnappers had contacted the family and they were demanding N60 million to release their victim.

The Public Relations Office of the Delta command of the Police, Celestina Kalu, however, confirmed the release on Sunday and denied any ransom was paid.

“Clark was released at the early hour of today by his captors and no ransom was paid,’’ she said.

The Ijaw Youth Council, IJC, also confirmed Mr. Clark’s release on Sunday, in a statement signed by a spokesperson of the Ijaw Youth Council, Eric Omare. They described the release as the triumph of collective will against criminality, as their collaboration with security agencies ensured the freedom of Mr Ebiteme Clark.

The statement read, “This clearly demonstrates to the entire world and Nigerians in particular that crimes only thrive in a society when it is condoned and given tacit support by members of the society.

“The IYC believes that there is a valuable lesson to be learnt from this experience by Nigerians and the Nigerian government in the fight against crimes especially terrorism in the northern part of the country.”

Mr. Omare also expressed appreciation to security agencies and the governments of Delta and Bayelsa States for their efforts.

Abduction had been on the rise in the nation’s South-South region in recent past where large sum of money is usually requested for ransom.

In some states of the federation, kidnapping attracts big penalties, including death penalty in some cases.